Strategic Technical Partners

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a key player in emergencies. Its focus is on food production and agriculture, reflecting its specialization and responsibility within the United Nations family. Assisting in preventing disaster-related emergencies, providing early warnings of food emergencies and helping in rehabilitation of food production systems are FAO's predominant roles in humanitarian aid. FAO has partnered AU-IBAR for the implementation of several projects including PARC, PACE, SERECU, SOLICEP, Vet-Gov, IRCM, Fisheries and Genetic resources among others.

The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) was created through the international agreement in 1924 in recognition of the need to fight animal diseases at a global level. In May 2003 the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health but kept its historical acronym OIE. The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide and is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2011 OIE had a total of 178 Member Countries. OIE has partnered with AU-IBAR for the implementation of PARC, PACE, SOLICEP, Vet-Gov, PAN-SPSO and IRCM.

The African Union Panafrican Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC), coordinated by African Union, provides vaccine quality control for African vaccine producing laboratories to meet international standards. The Centre promotes standardization and quality control of biological products and provides training and support services for vaccine production laboratories. AU-PANVAC was supported with EU funding under PARC in 1996. AU-IBAR collaborates with AU-PANVAC and the two are currently implementing the VACNADA project.

The African Union Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU-PATTEC) Office has the mandate of initiating, supporting and coordinating Tsetse and Trypanosomiais (T&T) eradication in Africa within the shortest time possible. The initiative comprises an international campaign to generate a process of sustained action through the introduction of the necessary support and mechanisms required for the eradication of the tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis from the affected countries. AU-IBAR works closely with AU-PATTEC in spearheading the fight against T&T especially through the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiais Research and Control (ISCTRC) platform whose secretariat is at AU-IBAR.

The French Centre for the International Cooperation in Agronomic Research for Development (CIRAD) will work with AU-IBAR on the VACNADA project to evaluate adjuvants for live and inactivated Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) vaccines. CIRAD will also support the use of c-ELISA test in Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) vaccine producing laboratories to help in the assessment of the vaccine efficacy and, in liaison with GALVmed, CIRAD will coordinate the optimisation and validation of the Xerovac freezedrying process for the Peste des Petit Ruminants (PPR) vaccine. Additionally, CIRAD and AU-IBAR are actively pursuing collaboration in the management of health challenges at the human-wildlife-environment interface through targeted research and development of disease surveillance toolkits.

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), is a 40 years old independent pan-African Research Centre headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Its Mission is help alleviate poverty, ensure food security and improve the overall health status of peoples of the tropics by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods, while preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building. ICIPE partners with AU-IBAR for the bee initiative and work on tsetse fly control.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is a non-profit-making and non-governmental organization that works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity-building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI assisted the AU-IBAR to develop its natural resources management plan, the Director of AU-IBAR serves on the ILRI Board of Trustees and a number of collaborative projects have been identified and are being jointly implemented in the field of avian influenza, PPR, climate change and Animal genetic resources.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting public health activities in the United States. Its mission is to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats. AU-IBAR through a Memorandum of Understanding with CDC – South Africa conducted continent wide training of (joint) multi-disciplinary rapid response teams in 46 countries. This partnership is expected to fledge even further as AU-IBAR enters into active engagement with zoonotic diseases in the coming months.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health Organization. The organization develops and promotes the use of evidence-based tools, norms and standards to support Member States to inform health policy options. The Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) worked closely with AU-IBAR in the execution of SPINAP to develop strategies and approaches for capacity building on IDSR/IHR implementation and establishment of virtual regional response teams to public health emergencies. WHO has also been instrumental in the development of the IRCM and is working closely with AU-IBAR and other technical organizations on its work, including promotion of the One Health agenda in Africa.

The Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA) is a collaboration that aims to protect crops, livestock, and people from the effects of aflatoxins. By combating these toxins, PACA will contribute to improving food security, health, and trade across the African continent.